For those of you who don’t know her, this smiling and spirited 10-year old girl from Cebu has been bravely fighting cancer.

Sadly, she’s now coming to the end of her fight.

I first came across her through the Everlasting Hope, an organization in Cebu that raises funds and manages care for poor kids with cancer. When they told me about Liza Mae, a little girl afflicted with a terrible tumor on her face, I wanted to help.

Her father long gone, only her mother was left to take care of Liza Mae when she first got sick and the tumor started growing. It grew alarmingly quickly, but still, there was no money to go to the hospital, or even for a simple doctor's visit.

So I posted some photos and told her story on Facebook and was amazed when donations started coming in, from people a world away that had never even been to the Philippines, as well as humble Filipino friends who were touched by her story.Charlot, a young single mother who barely makes ends meet by working the night shift at a hotel, gave her entire week’s salary for Liza Mae. “Tell her to be strong; that someone is praying for her from far away; tell her to hold on tight and fight; that she needs to keep her hopes up. No matter what,” Charlot messaged me.With our donations, Everlasting Hope was able to get her to the doctor, and then specialists, and finally to the hospital for blood transfusions and then the start of an eight-course chemotherapy treatment.

I even got to visit Liza Mae and her mother when I was in Cebu. They lived near the port among shantytowns, but they were even worse off, staying in a shack in the parking lot of a truck stop. They didn’t even have running water or a CR, and had to run outside – and pay a coin - to use a neighbor’s facilities.I wore a surgical mask to protect her from germs that could cause infection, although she lives amid squalor and flies. Liza Mae sat on her mother's lap. She was so skinny, a cotton swab taped to her hand from a recent IV, a hospital ID bracelet hanging from her emaciated wrist.

She was shy at first but soon warmed up, peeking a smile out from her mother’s embrace. I found out that Liza Mae is still like any other kid, despite her terrible condition, including a love of chicharron, ice cream, and Jollibee fried chicken.

Before I had to leave, she wanted to give me a high five and present me with some artwork that she’d colored.

It says, simply, "Salamat,” and is now my most cherished possession.

Over the next couple of months, we were cautiously optimistic as Liza Mae continued her chemotherapy and treatment. But, lately, it all became too much for her system, as her body couldn’t keep up with the constant infections and need for blood transfusions, all made worse by how weakened she was from chemo.

The realistic options for her care began to disappear, as did my hopes for a happy ending for Liza Mae.

I began receiving messaged like, “The tumor is really becoming bigger. Liza Mae for now is in their house. She was transfused one bag of blood and another bag was to be given, but she declined. She opted to just go home to see her family.”And, “Liza Mae is such a fighter. Though we want her to see a pain specialist, she doesn't want to see any doctor anymore.”“In spite of the condition, Liza Mae is happy now as her father arrived and is with her.”“She mentioned she wants to go to a park to have a picnic. Weather here is rainy, hoping we can have sunshine within this week so we can do it.”

Right now, Liza Mae is at home among family, as comfortable as possible and waiting to go home.It’s hard to accept, and I only wish there was more I could do to help her.If nothing else, I want her to know that she’s loved by so many people.I don’t want her to be scared, and I want her to know that she’s not alone.Maybe we can help, after all.Could you join me in wishing her well?Please email me your regards, warm thoughts, and prayers for Liza Mae to hi@NormSchriever.com. You can even make a card or draw a picture, take a photo of it, and send it to me. I’ll make sure that she gets them all through the folks at Everlasting Hope and her mother.From the bottom of my heart, thank you for caring, and let’s all hope for some sunshine for Liza Mae.

Norm, Good to see your postcard. I hardly ever check my yahoo email, but I am glad I did today. Please tell Liza Mae that she and her family and loved ones will be in our familiy's prayers for a painless journey home. We will say a Divine Mercy Chaplet for her, which is a Catholic prayer for the dying. God bless you being God's hands and feet on earth to help her and her family during this catastrophic time. Bless you both,
Judith

Reply

Jodi

11/1/2017 04:52:40 pm

Bria and I won’t make her a card and send it to you. She is in our prayers.

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Phil Calderoni

11/2/2017 04:14:33 am

My prayers and best wishes fort Liza Mae!

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Maricor Arroyo

11/6/2017 06:08:11 pm

I am so sad to hear this.... please tell Liza Mae she is in my prayers. Thank you for all you’ve done for her Norm. God bless you,

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Norm Schriever

Norm Schriever is a best-selling author, expat, cultural mad scientist, and enemy of the comfort zone. He travels the globe, telling the stories of the people he finds, and hopes to make the world a little bit better place with his words.

Norm is a professional blogger, digital marketer for smart brands around the world, and writes for the Huffington Post, Hotels.com, and others.